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Norfolk & Region

Apple cider doughnut 'an icon of Norfolk'

Kimberly Tuck of The Apple Place in Simcoe puts the finishing touches on the famous Apple Cider Doughnut earlier this week. An online petition is being circulated to make the treat Norfolk County's official doughnut. (JACOB ROBINSON Simcoe Reformer)

Norfolk County has always supported its own - that goes for both people and pastries.

A group led by local entrepreneur Gregg McLachlan is looking to have the popular apple cider doughnut featured at Simcoe's Apple Place declared Norfolk's official doughnut. An online petition (ipetitions.com/petition/make-apple-cider-doughnuts-the-official-doughnut) started Sept. 24 has garnered over 230 signatures. Once it hits 2,000, the document will be brought forward to county council.

A few reasons sparked an interest in the idea.

“I live next to an apple orchard, and I know apple farmers have had a really tough last few years with frost and different crop diseases,” McLachlan said. “It was a matter of thinking of a unique, fun way to maybe give them a little bit of a boost, and promote an iconic product of Norfolk.”

McLachlan would love for everyone – not just those in and around Norfolk – to enjoy the delicious treat, one produced by the Norfolk Fruit Growers Association.

“They've got this unique product that basically sells out almost every day and it's not made in a high-tech way. This doughnut, they could sell ten times what they do. There's possibilities there for it I think,” he said.

“It's unique to Norfolk, it's made locally (and) it's made by a farm co-op which makes it even more special.”

An official designation would also be a nod to apple farmers past and present. Apple growing in Norfolk dates back over a century.

The idea has garnered swift attention from various sources, and as far as organizers have found, would be the first declaration of its kind in Canada.

“We're getting so many people beyond Norfolk signing the petition, and that's the really cool thing,” McLachlan said. “This isn't just a Norfolk thing. We have people from Kitchener saying they drive here to get these donuts. People love these donuts – they're an icon of Norfolk.”